According to some sources, the Vietnamese army deployed helicopters and tanks following tensions with ethnic groups in the region, which began four days ago. On June 11, dozens of people attacked two police stations, killing nine people. Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent agents to the border to prevent further unrest.
Hanoi () – Clashes are intensifying in Vietnam’s central highlands region, after riots broke out four days ago in the province of Dak Lak, where the Degar or Montagnard ethnic minority lives, mostly made up of Christians. According to official sources consulted by ucanews, tanks and helicopters were reportedly deployed to forcibly suppress the revolt. “Firefights and new ambushes have been reported at police stations and against Vietnamese soldiers, while the entire central plateau is under blockade,” the source said.
The tensions began on June 11, when dozens of unidentified people wearing camouflage vests attacked two police stations in Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur municipalities, killing four officers, two municipal officials and three civilians. The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security referred to a “group causing insecurity and unrest” and announced that it had so far detained at least 45 people.
The Central Highlands region is inhabited mostly by the Degar, a population of dozens of indigenous groups, mostly Catholic, who fought alongside US forces during the Vietnam War. Over the years they have denounced the repressive policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which restricted religious freedom and encouraged the expropriation of their land. The security forces “arrested us, beat us, tortured us. They destroyed our houses. They destroyed our churches,” in addition to confiscating farmland and destroying crops, denounced the inhabitants of the area in a statement on June 11.
“Vietnam’s deliberate efforts to isolate and separate these mountainous areas and their inhabitants from all contact with the international community are one of the causes of incidents like this,” had commented on June 12 Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch Asia. “Behind Vietnam’s veil of secrecy shrouding the mountainous region, the government flagrantly violates rights, denies religious freedom, seizes indigenous peoples’ lands, and forces their assimilation. Though Human Rights Watch never condones violence , it’s easy to understand why the locals are angry with the Vietnamese government and its repressive policies,” Robertson continued.
However, religious and civil organizations representing ethnic minorities declared from the beginning who were not involved in the armed attacks. The group Montagnards Stand for Justice, whose founders are political refugees in Thailand and the United States, stressed that it had nothing to do with the violence and expressed concern about the armed uprising, which threatens to nullify efforts that have been made so far for of religious freedom in Vietnam.
According to some complaints, the attackers belong to mercenary groups. Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh, co-founder of the Vietnam Evangelical Church of Christ, who now resides in the United States but remains in contact with the local population, told Rbye free asia that many Degars are confused about recent events and doubt that they can form militias organized into combat troops of 30-40 people on their own.
A few days ago, Vietnamese state television also broadcast an interview with one of the suspected fighters, according to which he was ordered to “shoot everyone in sight” after promising to “get rich.” At the same time, government agencies asked the public “not to post or share unverified related information,” and five people have so far been fined by local authorities for spreading “false information” on social media.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent police forces to the border: “Chaos is brewing in Vietnam, but we have to be careful about people entering our country,” the prime minister told state media. dictator, in power for almost 40 years. “We have to keep in touch with the Vietnamese side to protect security and we have to do everything possible not to provoke a conflict with Vietnam.” On several occasions, the Montagnards have sought refuge in Cambodia at times of greatest difficulty.
